Our View: Making housing happen on Cape Cod

Wednesday

Jan 24, 2018 at 8:08 AMJan 24, 2018 at 9:22 AM

Poviding good, safe, reasonably priced housing for people who contribute to our society on a day-to-day basis is among the big problems facing Cape Cod today. We have seen enough talented people leave Cape Cod because they cannot afford to live here any more. They go to places where they can earn more and maybe begin to climb up the economic ladder.

A house is, for most people, the biggest, most costly thing they will ever purchase. But many don't even have the chance to make that purchase. Owning a home is not a realistic goal for far too many people. They don't earn enough money to buy a house in our seemingly lopsided economy in which wealth is concentrated with a few. Or they don't have the ability to save enough money for a down payment, so they remain on the sidelines.

It's a cycle that repeats over and over again, and it's rare when an opportunity comes along to get more people into the housing market at an affordable price. But one of those opportunities is coming up this year in Dennis.

Habitat for Humanity plans to build three houses to be sold at affordable prices to buyers chosen from a lottery. In the planning stages are a three-bedroom house on South Yarmouth Road; a one-bedroom house on Jannal Drive and a two-bedroom house also on Jannal Drive. The prices will be well below typical market rates. Potential buyers must meet certain income guidelines and they must be first-time home buyers. Also, they must be willing to provide what habitat for Humanity calls "sweat equity" by doing some of the construction work themselves in conjunction with professional builders and volunteers.

If that goal of owning a home has eluded you, this might be your chance. If you have a son or daughter who is seemingly frozen out of the housing market, maybe this is the opportunity for them. Learn more about the planned houses, the income requirements and the entire application process online at habitatcapecod.org or at 508- 362-3559 or office@habitatcapecod.org.

It is inspiring to see a community come together to build a house. The voters of Dennis have already stepped up to help fund the three new houses and by donating one of the parcels of land involved. The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank will administer the Federal Home Loan Bank grant that got the project going and will provide construction financing. Habitat for Humanity has built houses in all 15 towns on Cape Cod and it looks like it is going to have another success, one that is worthy of our attention and support.